Why Abortion is Wrong, wrong, wrong...did I say wrong? yes, wrong.

I don't know why I am sharing this information with anyone and everyone...but this issue of abortion has been rolling around in my head for a while and has gained much more urgency in recent weeks and months. It's been spurred by a number of random happenings.

1) Upon my second visit to the nurse to receive a travel assessment, including the necessary shots and vaccinations for my upcoming trip to Uganda, the nurse asked if I may be visiting any 'dangerous' parts of the country. Yes, I said. I will be visiting some IDP and refugee camps. Ok, she replied. Just in case you get raped, you may want some morning after pills. Here is a prescription.

This all happened in a matter of minutes, the conversation, that is, but something about the matter of factness and the implications of this exchange stayed with me.
Hmmm. It was sobering to think about this topic and whether in fact, I would take a morning after pill, even if a baby was unwanted and I happened to get pregnant. While the chances are not high, nevertheless, it got me thinking about the reality of being in a situation (as many young girls in northern Uganda are) where one is faced with an unwanted pregnancy.

2) My sister gave birth to a baby with Down's syndrome. A few friends and acquaintances thought that it would be only 'natural' to consider abortion. Something in me rose up and I knew from the pit of my being that this idea was not only horrible, it was evil. What made it more difficult to accept, was that these ideas were coming from people I genuinely liked and cared for.

3) Seeing and learning about the many, many orphans in Uganda has made me think about the possibility of adopting a child from the country. I have joked about it with friends, and usually in some self-deprecating way; like, "Oh, yeah, I would love to adopt, but who am I kidding? I can barely take care of myself, let alone another human being." But that is not really what I am thinking inside. Inside, I do think it's a possibility; and the thought of caring for an orphan and bringing one home, as weird as it sounds, is appealing to me, but not only because of the superficial reasons I share with friends, but because what has really struck me in all of these situations, and conversations of late, is the ease with which people de-value human beings and de-value life, without realizing that that is what they are doing.

I think about children, I think about people who are suffering - and I realize that this talk about abortion is about them, too. When it's not convenient for us, when it causes too much effort or pain, we should ignore them - worse, we should kill them. It's too much trouble, it's not wortwhile. Some people may even justify it in the name of some 'noble-sounding' cause - oh, why put that person or child through unnecessary suffering? Wouldn't it be easier to not have them be born at all?

Friends, regardless whether you are 'pro' or 'con' - the issue of abortion has nothing to do with being on one side or another. Yes, people will probably continue to have abortions, no matter what the law is in the country; but at the heart of the matter, as I have thought through the issue and seen how people talk about it, is a lightness, carelessness and ignorance about the sacredness of life and the deep and eternal love God has for every living being. Abortion is absolutely, unequivocally a source of deep sadness and pain to God.

There is a quote by C.S. Lewis to the effect that people deny heaven, not because their idea of heaven is too lofty, but because they are too content to play in the mud. When I've spoken to several people about abortion, and related issues, like prostitution, etc. I realize this thought captures exactly the problem. So many people fail to realize the real sacredness of life - and I don't mean just of babies or an unborn fetuses, but the real sacredness of everything God gives to us as gifts in this world. Gifts He meant for us to cherish and take seriously. Gifts which are so valuable, He was willing to be tortured and killed on the cross for you to have and experience. The gift of your life, my life, human life which is more precious and weighty than we often realize or appreciate. And instead of speaking about life (and sex, I may add) with awe, trembling, unspeakable splendor and respect that is due such topics; we tend to view life through the prism of popular culture, or in ways that deny the sacredness of all that is living and being in this world.

Once we deny the sacredness of life anything goes. What was once beautiful, special and sacred becomes expendable, manipulable, buyable, commodified. It becomes a 'choice' a 'convenience' - a pill.

Oh, Lord. If only we could stop playing in the mudpiles and see what living in heaven really is like: sacred, beautiful, eternal, hopeful, life-giving, pure, loving, good, and all that we deny ourselves when we fail to see that you are the true giver of all things good.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

James 1:17

Sorry, I just needed to get this out there.